Saturday, December 27, 2003

What do you think? would you hire me?


Hugh H. Melrose III 2405 Rio Grande Box 39 Apt 108 Austin, Texas 78705
512 - 477 - 5941 / 512 - 947 - 2848

Employment History
Aug, 2003 to Present El Rio Apartments, 2405 Rio Grande, Austin, Texas 78705
Manager

Aug, 2002 to Dec, 2002 H.E.Butts Corporation, Austin # 346, Far West Austin, Texas
Cashier, Bagger,Carryout

Jan, 1996 to Present U.S. Army 75th Division 1st Brigade Battlefield Projections Group, Battle Command Staff Training and Support, Houston, Texas 77054
Current Rank/Pay Grade: Seargent / E-5, Oct 2002
Security Level: Secret
Signal Systems Operations - Specialized training, Cable/Wire Systems, Unit Administration, Radio, Communications Security & Training

Jan, 1999 to Dec, 2001 ExxonMobil Exploration Corporation, Upstream Technical Computing 222 Benmar Houston, Texas 77060
Technical Assistant - Information Management Systems

Aug, 1998 to Dec, 1998 StaffMark, Formerly International Team Consultants
Contractor assigned to Exxon Exploration Corporation in Geo-Science Data Resource Management

Feb, 1998 to Jun,1998 SSL Enterprises, Mail Boxes Etc. #346, Spring,Texas shipping, receiving, customer service, sales clerk, inventory

Education History
2003 – present Austin Community College – Rio Grande Campus

1998 - 2003 North Harris Montgomery Community College System, Houston, Texas
Business and Engineering major, Graphics design and Business courses

1997 - 1997 Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas
Business and Engineering major, ROTC advanced standing

1996 - 1997 United States Army, Fort Gordon Georgia
31 Lima School - Cable and Wire systems installation and maintenance
35 Echo School - Radio and Communications Security, operations and maintenance

1996 United States Army, Fort Leonardwood, Missouri
U.S. Army Basic Training

1992 - 1996 Klein Oak High School, Spring, Texas. graduated May,1996 with special study in Drafting / Architectural Computer aided design, Athletics, Sports Medicine and Marine Biology courses
1995 Second Place Regional Winner in Aerospace Design (AutoCAD)

Computer Applications Experience

Microsoft Office XP/2000, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, XP, NT, Win98, Win95,Office 97 AutoCADD R12, R13, R14, R2000, 3D Studio, 3D Max, 3D Viz, Corel Draw,Adobe Photo Shop 6.0/7.0, Netscape Navigator, Internet Explorer, Webpage design

*DD - 214 On file with Harris County Clerk - verifies military training and honorable discharge from Active Army status to Active Army Reserve status.

Organizations

Boy Scouts of America, Sam Houston Area Council, Houston, Texas
Nov. 1995 Assistant Scout Master, Troop 87, Polaris District
Oct. 1995 Achieved Eagle Scout Rank, Polaris District
Sep. 1993 Explorer Scouts of America, Post 555, Polaris District
Jul. 1993 Order of the Arrow, honor camper youth group of Boy Scouts of America
Brotherhood member

Team Army - USAC - A Road, Mountain and Cyclocross Cycling Club - Mountain Bike Racer

International Mountain Bikers Association

Volunteer Experience

Boy Scouts of America, Sam Houston Area Council, Houston, Texas
Summer camp staff at El Rancho Cima's Horseshoe Bend Camp, 1995
Cockerel River Camp - 1993
Philmont Scout Ranch - 1992, 1994
Assistant Scoutmaster Troop 87, Spring, Texas, Polaris District
Explorer Post 555
Assisted in variety of volunteer efforts designed to benefit the community

Habitat for Humanity, Houston, Texas - Volunteer assisting in construction of homes

Red Cross Disaster Aid Volunteer - Houston, Texas

Texas Sports Medicine Center - Tomball, Texas - Volunteer Physical Therapy Assistant

*References available upon request.

You're Mickey
You're Mickey!


which Snatch movie character are you?
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You are
You are "I Miss You"


which Incubus song are you?
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Yes, I'm still here in the states, though for how much longer I'm not sure, I have several fellow soldiers that have been recalled and are deployed all over the world in support of current operations. I get almost daily updates on real life situations going on in both Iraq and Afghanistan as well as in the Balkans. I could be deployed to any of these regions at any time and it's interesting to hear about what's going on there, the culures and everything, War isn't always a bad thing it gives us a broader perspective of the world. Life is interesting sometimes and I just tend to wonder about what it could bring. I'm not saying war is a good thing, I'm just saying it isn't always a bad thing if you can wrap your mind around that one.

I keep wondering about things though.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Thursday, December 18, 2003

So it seems mightily important to some few people that I update my blog on a regular basis. I am sorry my friends and readers I did not think that not posting would garner the response that it has, Thank you all for both your kind and not so kind words. I shall endeavor to post more frequently.

What has been going on in the life of Hugh, inquiring minds want to know, ha!

I've completed my semester with a vengeance! I know I struggled and faltered early on in my academic endeavors, but it seems lately, within the past few years that I have somehow achieved a mental state which obliterates coursework without even thinking about it. I have earned "A's" in all my courses and will continue to do so with future courses. It just remains to me to decide what to take next semester, hmmm... there are so many options.

As for my daily life, it is rather dull and boring with moments of insanity and drama thrown in for a bit of spice. I spend most of my days now in the office waiting for people to call or fielding phone calls from people who might call... or calling people who have called.. or I spend it online at any of three sites that seem to have sucked me in, one being Tribe which is not so bad, it is similar to Friendster but it tends to work a bit better and load faster, The next one though is a serious addiction, bordering upon OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Myspace by far blows the two previous out of the water with it's speed and load time, user features and general accessability to others.

It has become an addiction that my friends have remarked upon and to this end I have started taking long walks outside, despite the cold, I love this city it's beauty pulls at me, the clean air, the skies so clear, It's youthfulness next to the history of our state, everything about this city pulls at me. The young intellectuals that reside in the myriad of coffee houses, bars and clubs, sitting side by side with the freaks and geeks, sorority girls and Frat boys, The wanted and unwanted all residing together in this beautiful kaleidescope of a city.

However; I do miss Houston, my friends, my family. being able to go somewhere and hang out for hours on end with people that truly mean the world to me. I wish we were closer to each other, but life and choices have pulled us apart. I miss the dirty beauty of Houston and the northern suburbs/towns of Tomball, Spring and those unnamed areas that we've all given names to, like slices of a big pie they all fit into the puzzle to form a whole work of art.

Hopefully soon I will be able to see it, to experience it. I am still working out getting a ride to Houston to see my family for the holidays. Several options have presented themselves to me, but my odd little workload has prevented me from accepting them. My parents say they'll come and get me if they have to, but I don't want to place that burden upon them. They've had to deal with so much that I don't want to place additional strain on them. Heck I think just my coming home and adding another mouth to feed will be hard enough on them.

I tend to worry about others more than I do myself, I often put my own thoughts and feelings aside if it will help someone else. This has been a detriment to my entire life, to moving forward to become what I want to become, even though the path I'm on is planned and I'm doing it for others in my life, I want to know that my efforts are for me as well, I've made so many choices with others in mind that it's hard to think about what I need and so easy to forget about wants, to simply walk away from something that could be good. All because my duty to others comes first.

I have so much going on in my life, the war, my family, I'm still single, College, The Apartments, Work, Friends... I tend to exist in a perpetual state of tense, I can't relax it seems. I haven't been sleeping a lot lately, my eating habits are the subject of concern among my friends and coworkers. I say these things not to worry you or to make you feel for me, these things are what they are, this is a part of my life, I know that someday things might work out and everything will be okay.

The day is beautiful outside, if a bit cold, I'm going to go out and get something to eat and see what the world has to offer...

oh and in case you're wondering if you're going to get rid of me anytime soon, don't get your hopes up, apparantly I'll be around for a long time in fact according to Deathclock my personal day of death is Tuesday, April 4, 2051.

hopefully this will satisfy y'all for a little while, if not then feel free to contact me or post a reply in my comments. Have a great one all! Happy Holidays or whatever makes you happy.

HELP OUT !!!
Hey, Texas Rollergirls fans!

As you may already know, Texas Rollergirls' own badass Pris (Chelsea Taylor) suffered a holiday tragedy when her house caught fire and burned last week. Pris and her mom are just fine physically, but they lost a lot of their personal belongings in the fire. The big-hearted folks at Ego's -- and some kick-ass bands -- have offered to help with a fundraiser this Saturday, December 20. It's a punk rock BBQ to help Pris and her mom get back on their feet in time to enjoy the rest of the holidays.

What: Punk Rock BBQ to benefit Pris
Where: Ego's on South Congress @ Riverside
Date: Saturday, December 20
Time: 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Music from: Amber Violand, Seaflea, The Dickens, and The Rockland Eagles

Thanks in advance for coming out on Saturday -- and an extra special thank you to Ego's for their unflagging support of the Texas Rollergirls.

Best wishes for a safe, happy holiday season,
The Texas Rollergirls

P.S. If you wish to make a donation via paypal you can do so at the following link...

(You may need to cut and paste the link)

https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=candycornqueen%40hotmail.com&item_name=Pris+house+fire+fundraiser&no_note=1&tax=0¤cy_code=USD&lc=US

Wednesday, December 10, 2003

Tuesday, December 09, 2003

you want to....

1. Give me a nickname and explain why you picked it.
2. Am I loveable?
3. How long have you known me?
4. When and how did we first meet?
5. What was your first impression?
6. Do you still think that way about me now?
7. What do you think my weakness is?
8. Do you think I'll get married?
9. What makes me happy?
10. What makes me sad?
11. What reminds you of me?
12. If you could give me anything what would it be?
13. How well do you know me?
14. When's the last time you saw me?
15. Ever wanted to tell me something but couldn't?
16. Do you think I could kill someone?
17. Describe me in one word.
18. Do you think our friendship is getting stronger/weaker/or staying the same?
19. Do you feel that you could talk to me about anything and I would listen?
20. Are you going to post this on your bulletin and see what I say about you?

I need to sleep, it's been so long since I've been able to close my eyes. there's so much going on that I need to get settled...
I had my two finals tonight, I know I got an "A" in government and I'm waiting to hear back on my physical geography class.
more to come soon...
japanese tattoo



You Should Get a Japanese Inspired Tattoo!


Kanji, anime, manga - whatever.

You're geeky, high tech, slightly obsessive…

Yet cool enough to ink up!



What Tattoo Should You Get?

More Great Quizzes from Quiz Diva

Monday, December 08, 2003

So much has been going on in the past week and especially this weekend, it just seems that everything in my life has been going wrong for quite a long time, well except for a certain someone, but I screwed that up and won't go into it here, at least not again. I've been out of town for work, my duty to my country or whatever you want to call it, trashed me, I worked some hella long hours and then went home to my parents a noisy place filled with way too much drama.

Friday I drove a good friend home to Houston, because he was stranded in Austin after his own little major drama, he stayed with me while he was here and damn can that boy eat, reminded me of my little brother at times, but what can I say he's a good friend, if a little odd at times. He's home now and hopefully everything will get better for him soon.

I had to report for Duty this weekend and on Saturday morning I needed to be there at 0500 hours, so at 0415 I'm trying to get my truck started in the cold and while attempting to put a car charger in my useless cigarrette lighter/adapter I blew a fuse in my beast of an old truck frying my radio in the process, I didn't have time to fix it then I had to be at work, which turned out to be a total nightmare of movement and work, I was trashed physically and mentally to say the least. I got to work and back home making only a minor stop at Fry's in Houston to take somethings back I had bought months ago, which Fry's robbed me out of what I paid for them, ran into my good buddy Zach and we got to run around Fry's for a bit, then it was off to meetup with another friend while they were passing through town, it was good to see them again, though I was seriously tired and needed to get home. The truck was making funny noises so I decided to check it later that night and due to it being oddly constructed ( I can thank my father for that one ) I spent hours trying to find the right fuse before I finally got the right one,mostly those hours were spent out in the cold lying on the ground half in and out of the truck and were not much fun, I didn't finish till just after midnight when I tried to start it and it the truck wouldn't start, apparantly I had flooded it somehow, well I got that fixed and then I went inside about 01:30 hours and crashed like crazy

Sunday wasn't much better, tons more work, my truck wouldn't start in the morning and yet I was able to plead my way out of staying longer into the evening and I was released early and I headed back home through Houston traffic which was insane as it always is. I had crashed for about an hour at my parents in Houston then I needed to get back on the road, my friend nicki in Austin had been dealing with some Drama at the apartments and I needed to be there err here where I am now to help her out with it. Too bad my Dad's old crazy truck strikes again just south of Hempstead ( which is about an hour north of Houston) on 290 and almost exactly where my transmission trashed on me a few weeks ago. apparantly I lost a U-joint and my drive shaft dropped to the road below, I made it to the side of the road somehow and after walking around the truck and checking everything. I began making phone calls and only got ahold of a few people. Those that I did get ahold of told me that it would be awhile before they could help me. so I waited for hours in the cold before I was rescued by my sister and my brother-in-law who brought me here to Austin. Then they drove all the way back to Houston, in fact they just left. Have I mentioned before how much they Rock!! at times? it's now 02:00 hours in the morning and I'm extremely tired and falling asleep, I can feel myself spiraling down...when the phone rings, it's one of the tenants upstairs apparantly there are three "people" digging through our dumpster outside and so now I must go and talk to them or call the police and wait for their slow ass's to show up. will this day ever end?

My trucks sitting on the side of the road, there's drama at home and drama here, I'm just so tired about a lot of things, but it should get better soon, there's not much worse that it can get. Anyway I've got to go talk to some "transients and tenants". Have a great one all!

Thursday, December 04, 2003

A word of advice:
Don't get mad at your friends on things based on heresay, kids. You'll end up looking like an ass. Friendships fall apart because of this. If you care enough about your friends, talk it out.
We're not in high school anymore. Grow the fuck up.

[edit] btw, before someone thinks this has to do with me, it doesn't. it has to do with my juvenile friends. it's quite sad, is all.
I will be in town this coming weekend, the 5-7th of December and possibly the 8th, who knows, I'm reporting to my unit this weekend and a lot of things are going to happen, but I only have possibilities and no definite plans. I know that there are units being formed and that they aren't at full strength, They're first looking for volunteers and then they'll assign people to slots. It sucks sometimes being in the military, you have no say in where you go, how long you'll stay and that puts a strain on relationships and your own self. Perhaps its just me, I don't know.

My Dad is doing well after his hip replacement surgery, I must mention that I was wrong in saying it was his right hip when it was his left. I'm not sure how I got that mixed up, but it was fifty/fifty shot. I do know that he's had a lot of work done on his right leg. He finally got through to the doctor and will have some in home help for physical/occupational therapy. I hope he's up and moving around again soon. The holidays are going to be extremely hard on my family as it is.

My sister and her family moved again this weekend, I swear sometimes I think she's part nomad or something. I worry about the childrens future, about what's going to occurr to them mentally and psychologically. You need stability when growing up. A home and I know my sister is trying hard and so is her husband, they're doing what they can. She's even gone back to college and is doing well.

it's Thursday and I've got a final tonight, so I'm going to get back to studying. I do miss you all very much, I don't know what I'd do without people like you as friends, family.

Monday, December 01, 2003

Sorry about not writing sooner or calling any of you back, this weekend has been fraught with drama and trauma. I spent most of my holiday with my family,helping out my Dad. How was your Thanksgiving? Mine was a bit Dysfunctional, but still well spent with family. The Holidays are going to be hard for them, Mom works for the school district and with all these holidays coming up her paychecks are going to keep getting shorter and shorter. My brother's looking good though he's lost a lot of weight from working constantly, at least I hope that's why, I think he weighs something like 195 now and that's amazing considering he's always been up in the 230/240's. Dad's doing better since his surgery, but he still whines like a little baby, I know it hurts, but he's got to get up and move around and I'm not going to cut him any slack.

I did get to see my sister and her family, with the exception of my niece Haley, but I did get to play with both Cheyanne and Garret and that was a lot of fun. I've never been close to getting to know her husband Chris, but he seems a decent enough guy, I remember he and vicky drove out to Hempstead practically when my truck decided to upchuck it's transmission fluid, so I know he's not a bad guy, but he's not a very open person either.

It was good to get out of Austin for a bit, to actually see old friends and know that they are doing well. You might be proud to know that I only went to Starbucks once when I was in Spring and once was enough. Some things are hard to face, especially when you might run into someone that you hurt so much. but I can't live my life as a lie, so it is what it is..

The Drama here at El Rio has been interesting to say the least. There was a fire, a "supposed assault" which really didn't happen, but the girl involved was egged on by the local police into filing charges, no it wasn't me, I was still in Houston when this all happened. Apparantly someone went to jail and there were police, fire and ems all around the building. I think there was a bottle of Irish Whiskey and some beer involved. I got a call the next day on Saturday and that sent me into a flurry of packing and driving back to Austin.

Then Saturday night more Drama happened which someone a friend of mine has asked me not to speak of, but even typing this is going to get you to wonder and it is technically speaking of the incident. Once again I'm not involved other than being a friend.

It's been a little crazy here at El Rio for the past few days, I leave and the whole place just starts falling apart, it's a little odd, maybe it has something to do with the weather or the Holidays? perhaps everyone had too much Turkey and their blood sugar levels were elevated to the point of insanity.

I'm just trying to maintain a level of objectivity in this whole mess. There are too many people involved, most of my friends here.

On to the next bit of news, I'll be in Spring/Houston next weekend, Our Friend Uncle Sam has asked for my presence. There is a military ball coming up and just to be honest for a few minutes I actually entertained the idea of asking someone to go, but I screwed up things with that someone and knowing her thoughts and the fact that the tickets are $50 each I thought it best not to. My unit's threatening me with activation again, this time it would be the full meal deal, there's a unit being formed and they've asked for volunteers as we have yet to be assigned this mission, but knowing the military as we do it won't be long before someone get's assigned to fill these vacancies. I'm not saying anything that we both don't already know, Yes, I could be taken at any time that's just how it works and it sucks, but I have only myself to blame. So I'll be in town by Friday, possibly sooner, if you want to get together or whatever let me know.

Once again, Sorry for not calling/emailing I'm a dork and have been really busy, believe it or not this is actually the first time I've had to sit down to the computer and just type. Anyway I hope your weekend went well and that you enjoyed the break from life, How's that going by the way? I know I'm trying to add a lot here at the end and Yes, I'm a dork, but I'm not all bad, one day though...one day I will have it all figured out and until then I've got to be what I've got to be. I hope your week is starting out well and good and that it only gets better! Have a great one!

Hugh

Wednesday, November 26, 2003

I know I haven't been writing here for awhile, life has been too turbulent to even attempt post, but I will endeavor to bring those of you who might be interested up to date in the next few days.

In the mean time I am in Houston visiting my father who just had surgery, I hate seeing someone I care about in pain and I regret that I wasn't able to get here sooner.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I want to wish you all and I do mean all of you, a Happy Holiday.
I just want to say that I'm thankful for all the friends and family that are in my life and even those who are no longer a part of my life I want to say thank you for the time that we have shared together, those times still shine brightest for me in my memory and I regret the loss that has come between us.

more to come, enjoy or not.

Friday, November 14, 2003

pho
You are Form 0, Phoenix: The Eternal.

"And The Phoenix's cycle had reached
zenith, so he consumed himself in fire. He
emerged from his own ashes, to be forever
immortal."


Some examples of the Phoenix Form are Quetzalcoatl
(Aztec), Shiva (Indian), and Ra-Atum
(Egyptian).
The Phoenix is associated with the concept of life,
the number 0, and the element of fire.
His sign is the eclipsed sun.

As a member of Form 0, you are a determined
individual. You tend to keep your sense of
optomism, even through tough times and have a
positive outlook on most situations. You have
a way of looking at going through life as a
journey that you can constantly learn from.
Phoenixes are the best friends to have because
they cheer people up easily.


Which Mythological Form Are You?
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Thursday, November 13, 2003

I AM HUGH...
Sometimes
I feel too deeply.
I fall in love too quickly.
I cry too easily.
I laugh too loud.
Sometimes
I need too desperately.
I hold on to sorrows that need to be forgotten.
I walk too slowly. I drive too quickly. I forget to call old friends.
I forget to brush my hair. Sometimes.
Sometimes
I can't remember how to breathe
and I can't bear to leave my house
for fear of failing.
Sometimes
I scream and I hurt the ones I love the most.
Sometimes
I am too weak
too WEAK
to control my urges, my angers, my passions, my tears.
I get afraid,
sometimes,
of waking up alone.
Of living the rest of my life
alone.
Of going to bed
alone.
Of dying
alone.
Sometimes
I just sit and watch the rain fall
forever.
And my breath falls upon the ground
like dried leaves
and for a moment I forget
that
I am afraid.
So I've jumped from Friendster to My Space which I'm glad I did, you can find me on either as imortalrooster@collegeclub.com

My space has more features and it just plain works, whereas Friendster is slow and featureless.

What's been going on in my life you ask? well simple enough really. Daily I wake up and I'm already at work, then I might study a bit. Go to classes at night while planning for the next semester, in the afternoons I hang with friends, weekends are usually involving some type of outdoor activity or a show. I was scheduled to participate in a tournament this weekend, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to do so with my hand the way it is.

My hand is an inconvenience, but I'm dealing with it, I'll take the stitches out myself in a few days. There's no sense in spending a ton more money on a hospital visit for something I can do myself.

This life is too fast

Here is a quote below from my current stage of re-reading Proust. Seems to sum up a lot about reading literature and the art of fiction. Also the internet, sadly, has speeded everything up. We need to slow everything down again. Or does it mean the opposite? Im not sure. Whatever the case, it means something we should spend time in pondering.

Next to this central belief which, while I was reading, would be constantly reaching out from my inner self to the outer world, towards the discovery of truth, came the emotions aroused in me by the action in which I was taking part, for these afternoons were crammed with more dramatic events than occur, often, in a whole lifetime. These were the events taking place in the book I was reading. It is true that the people concerned in them were not what Francoise would have called real people. But none of the feelings which the joys or misfortunes of a real person arouse in us can be awakened except through a mental picture of those joys or misfortunes; and the ingenuity of the first novelist lay in the understanding that, as the image was the one essential element in the complicated structure of our emotions, so that simplification of it which consisted in the suppression, pure and simple, of real people would be decided an improvement. A real person, profoundly as we may sympathize with him, is in a great measure perceptible only through our senses, that is to say, remains opaque, presents a dead weight which our sensibilities have not the strength the lift. If some misfortune comes to him, it is only in one small section of the complete idea we have of him that we are capable of feeling any emotion; indeed it is only in one small section of the complete idea he has of himself that he is capable of feeling any emotion either. The novelists happy discovery was to think of substituting for those opaque sections, impenetrable to the human soul, their equivalent in immaterial sections, things, that is, which ones soul can assimilate. After which it matters not that the actions, the feelings of this new order of creatures appear to us in the guise of truth, since we have made them our own, since it is in ourselves that they are happening, that they are holding their thrall, as we feverishly turn over the pages of the book, our quickened breath and staring eyes. And once the novelist has brought us to this state, in which, as in all purely mental states, every emotion is multiplied ten-fold, into which his book comes to disturb us as might a dream, but a dream more lucid and more abiding than those which come to us in sleep, why then, for the space of an hour he sets free within us all the joys and sorrows in the world, a few of which only we should have to spend years of our actual life in getting to know, and the most intense of which would never be revealed to us because the slow course of their development prevents us from perceiving them. It is the same in life, the heart changes, and it is our worst sorrow; but we know it only through reading, through our imagination: in reality its alteration, like that of certain natural phenomena, is so gradual that, even if we are able to distinguish, successively, each of its different states, we are still spared the actual sensation of change.

Tuesday, November 11, 2003

It's Tuesday morning, early and I'm awake as I am most often these days, I can't seem to sleep at night I have so much on my mind it keeps me awake as I toss and turn, having a hand sensitive to pain doesn't help much either.

Today is Veteran's Day, I know some of us would appreciate a 'Thank you' or whatever, but I've never really thought of myself as having earned the right to call myself a veteran. Yes, I have been in situations and have served my country to the best of my abilities even through irksome tasks and weighty responsibilities, but I don't consider what I've done to be equal to what others have given. The military hasn't always been a voluntary organization, it is only recently such. So those who came before, some went unwillingly, leaving behind friends and families to go somewhere to fight and maybe die or to return from a conflict they didn't wholly understand. It's the same and not the same for everyone who participates in such endeavors and they are changed because of it. Freedom isn't Free seems to be a popular slogan these days and while this is true, people generally think of the fiscal cost of it all and not the human or the emotional side. I joined the Army in January of 1996, I didn't have any high ideals about Duty, Honor or Freedom, not to say that I didn't have these ideals, they just weren't a foundation for my deciding to join. I needed help to go to college, my parents didn't prepare well, but that's okay, sometimes it's better if you have to make your own way. I thought long and hard about the branch of service that I wanted to join and I finally decided on the Army due to familial reasons, my grandfather, whom I am named after also served in the Army, he was part of the D-day invasion and he didn't make it through. My other Grandfather was at Pearl Harbor on the Arizona, luckily a buddy of his made one last check and pulled him out to safety. I have cousins who have served in both Korea and Vietnam, others in more recent conflicts and when I think of Veterans I think of these men and women, Some gave a little and some gave all. I still wonder what my contribution will be and will it be able to even begin to equal the service of others? So if you can, Thank a Veteran today, you'll see them proudly wearing their flags and pins, They know what it means to serve, they understand things like the meaning of the pledge of allegiance, why we have a nation and why we must protect it. You might think I'm an advocate of War or conflict, but I'm not. I think it's one of the worst things Humanity has ever created, but sometimes it's necessary.

This weekend I went to Houston, Duty called and I went to serve regardless of my hand and how it felt I went. While in Houston some things occurred, Life happens my friends and sometimes it's not always for the good or the bad, it just simply happens. I ran into someone I wanted to talk to, but apparantly they didn't want to talk to me, so I made a singular attempt and though I was denied once, I care for this person enough to not harrass them and to respect their privacy. I regret the events that led up to it, I wish I could change things, but they are what they are and I didn't try to hide them, I was open and honest, maybe too honest, sometimes I regret my decision to tell them about what happened, but I know it was the right thing to do because not to do so would have torn me up inside and it would be living a lie and having a relationship tied together by a lie and that I will not do. I know how fragile relationships can be, In the past I have been in situations where others have either lied to me, withheld information or even worse and I will not have a relationship like that. So I will be open and honest about what goes on in my life and if I screw up, then I will freely admit to my wrongdoings, not to hurt the other person, but because they deserve to know.

I posted about them here a while back, Yes I probably sugar coated them and at times, most times I sound a bit melodramatic, but that's the way I write. The reason for sugarcoating or being vague or whatever is not only to respect the privacy of the persons involved ( You'll notice I rarely post names of anyone I'm in a relationship/conflict with ). This is my personal blog, not a public forum, I post here for my own sake and if it is read and liked/hated that's all well and good. I appreciate the comments, that are made and the emails that I receive and I respect the opinions of others.

Some of you may like it, some of you may hate it and others could care less about it, This is my blog, there are many like it and many not like it, but this one is mine, you will learn to either love it like your own or not, but remember this one is mine. Thank you for reading it.

Thursday, November 06, 2003

It's Thursday, late at night, actually more like early Friday morning and later this afternoon I think I'll be heading to Houston, I have to my duty calls to me. Sometimes my choice to join the military vexes me, it's terribly hard to maintain any kind of relationship with this kind of stress in my life, Though to be honest I can't blame it entirely on the military, my choice to serve was exactly that, my choice. It's just that I've lost so much to it even while gaining so much, sometimes it just sucks.

I haven't been happy for awhile now, there is someone who was in my life that meant a whole lot to me, more than she knew and I messed it up, sometimes I hold back, hell I know I hold back my emotions for fear of driving people away. I want so much to just let go and let everything flow. I remember in my youth that I used to be so open, so full of laughter and so free with my smiles. what happened to that little boy? He was so full of life and energy. Why am I the man I am now? What has occurred to make me so?

It is best not to dwell on these things. I've been saddened enough already by thoughts, the days here have turned cold, the nights get dark earlier, the city is full of the frigid chill, Winter is coming my friends, the cold winds herald it's coming with howls seeping into cracks, through crevaces and the pores of jackets and winter coats set to ward off the winter chill.

My hand still hurts like crazy. it still bleeds a little and it is all bruised. typing here is very difficult and filled with pain. Though I have to deal with it, I have to work through it. I have it tightly wrapped which is good, because it's like wearing a glove and that helps with the cold. I've dealt with worse, the cold reminds me if I forget, the chill seeps into my bones and they ache with each new day.

It's these cold nights that remind me more so of how I'm so alone, not forfriends I'll never be lonely for having so many friends, which I am so thankful for, but I am lonely for a significant other, you know a one and only, I thought I had found her, only to lose her so quickly and without being able to do anything about it. I long for someone to hold close in the night, to laugh with, to share my thoughts with, to hold closer than close. There is something pure and sweet in sharing your everything with someone you care deeply about and that returns that caring freely.

I will be in Houston this weekend, hopefully I will get to see my friends in my free time, but I don't know if that will be possible. If I will have any free time, between working for Uncle Sam aka the U.S. Army and my family, I hope I will have time to see my friends.

a story I developed about my hand, that's not true and that I've not told anyone other than my good friend Kyle, but I told him about the glass right afterwards:

Did you hear that I got stabbed in the hand? yeah it's true, I was walking home from school the other night and I heard this scream so yours truly went into action. rushed to this darkened alleyway and there was this girl being attacked by this homeless drag rat nasty, I grabbed him and threw him against the wall. he must have been high cause he came flying back at me screaming, I pushed the girl back but she grabbed my arm. I only had one free hand, that's when I noticed the knife in the dude's hand and I blocked with my free hand, shoved the girl harder away and brought my free arm around and nailed him right in the throat. brought my knee up into his groin, then dropped him hard, kicking him in the head a couple of times. he wasn't moving too well after that, the girl was screaming though then I noticed my hand was bleeding like crazy. What about the girl you ask, she was fine, her clothes were torn a bit, I think she might have had a few cuts and bruises, I tore a hunk off my shirt wadded it up and wrapped my hand in it to help prevent further bleeding, we called the cops and waited for them to come, then I went to the emergency room. I've got a two inch cut, with 8 stitches in it. It was a pretty nasty stab, just barely missed my flexor tendons and the nerves, I was lucky, though we'll see how lucky I am when I get the bill.

but honestly if you'll read the post below you'll find out that I was removing glass from a picture frame and the frame broke sending broken glass into my hand I did have to go to the emergency room though. Well it's getting late and I've got things to do later tomorrow err today, so I hope everyone is doing well and I look forward to seeing/hearing from you soon. Have a great one all!!

Tuesday, November 04, 2003

hey :) Sorry I haven't written here in awhile, once Monday hit things went a bit crazy around here, I've got projects due tonight and I needed to hit them hard.

Speaking of hitting things hard, in my zeal (sp?) to get things done I broke some glass in a picture frame, luckily or rather unluckily I was able to catch the pieces before they shattered all over the floor, the unlucky part is that I cut my right hand pretty bad and had to go to the emergency room, which is where I was all night last night and a good part of this morning. Now my hand looks like a giant cotton ball, but they say I'm lucky because I just missed all the tendons and nerves. so there is a silver lining to this whole incident, I'm now waiting for the bill to come, they told me it was going to be something like $700 and I was like what??!? I seriously don't have that kind of cash just lying around, so I'll see what I can do about getting some help, but I don't know I haven't even gotten the bill yet..

How was everyone’s Halloween? What did you do? I simply had a great time with friends, went down to sixth street and got a little crazy, my friend Nicki had a great time as well, she got to hug a giant inflatable penis, don’t worry I took pictures while yelling the line from Jay and Silent Bob Strike back, “ She Love’s the cock!!” it was crazy and a lot of fun, I haven't been this happy in awhile. Austin is so dark to me these days, I sometimes question why I moved back here and not somewhere else, what would have been different if things had gone another way? I ponder these things in the long hours of the day.

Last Saturday night was a little crazy too, I went to a Frat after Halloween party that some friends of mine were throwing, I felt so old there, but I did my thing and mingled and talked up a storm, the bands sucked, but people had fun and I'm glad to say that at the end of the night I went home alone, not for lack of offers, but because that's not what I'm looking for. Anyway..

Work for me has picked up tremendously I have apartments to rent, then the Army this coming weekend in Houston and on top of that I have these projects due in two hours with only one hand, please excuse my abrupt ending to this, please feel free to call me if y'all need anything. Have a great one!

Wednesday, October 29, 2003

Do you remember a yesterday so long ago when the weather was amazing?
and how it all turned to crazy.

lost in your smile
wishing to be
found on your lips
with a
kiss so simple
but a feeling so complex
while your
hands warm on my back
give me
a shiver cool as ice
my focused senses
become
scattered sensations
distant illusions
become a
close reality
you're a dream to me
stranger of beauty
all these feelings
i'm having,
realizing,
because
i'm lost in your smile
wishing to be
found on your lips.

Inspiration: Reflecting on someone's cute smile. It had me daydreaming of a memory from not so long ago. I wish that memory were a reality, but such things as said cannot be, there was no explanation for my consternation, it simply had to be what it would be and nothing was able to be. So here I sit now in my lonely reality, wishing and reflecting of a memory of a smile. It's late at night when I think of her the most, those nights I can't seem to sleep, when I want to pick up the phone just to hear her voice, everything seemed to be going right, it seemed better, now Austin is so dark to me, the skies are grey, the winds have turned colder and all I want to do is capture those last few moments of summer and hold them close as if I could hold her close to me again. I think of her every day and I want her to know how I'm feeling, how much she means to me still.

Tuesday, October 28, 2003

Erase the answers on my filled out form then copy and paste it to another bulletin to let people know more about you. Who knows? You may attract a new friend because you answered alike. Wishful thinking on your part because no one really likes you. They're just using you to get to your eggo’s.

1. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

It’s been too long, I'm not exactly one to let my emotions run free and I know it's unhealthy to keep things bottled up inside, but I do until they come pouring out.

2. WHEN YOU WERE A KID (SAY AGE 3 TO 10 OR SO) WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?

Honestly? I wanted to be a knight with a horse, lance and a big friggin sword, I think sometimes I still do.

3. HAVE YOU EVER EATEN A BUG?

It’s highly possible, I think while riding my bike one may have found it’s way into my mouth a few times, then there was cub scouts and my first chocolate covered ant.

4. DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF LAZY?

At times yes, but then I have these moments where you just can’t seem to get me to stop.

5. WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON YOU EVER KISSED AND HOW OLD WERE YOU?

I must have been very young because it was probably me Ma’

6. GUYS - HAVE YOU EVER HAD A MULLET? GIRLS - HAVE YOU EVER HAD ONE OF THOSE POM POM IN THE FRONT HAIR-DOS? YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IF YOU HAD ONE.

I had something close, long hair when I was a freshman in High school and the beginnings of a scraggly beard. I got over that phase real fast.

7. WHAT KIND OF VEHICLE DO YOU DRIVE?

I have a truck, but it’s in Houston, a 1988 Chevy S-10 2-door Blazer and my 1996 Yamaha Virago, here now in Austin I’ve got my bicycles, one Kona Full suspension and a Marin hardtail.

8. HAVE YOU EVER STAYED WITH A PERSON LONGER THAN YOU SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE YOU FELT BAD ABOUT HURTING THEIR FEELINGS?

Unfortunately, yes, but I thought it was for the best. Sometimes you have no choice.

9. DO YOUR GUMS BLEED WHEN YOU FLOSS?

No. because I don’t floss, yeah, yeah I know, whatever, but I've never really had a problem with my teeth.

10. HAVE YOU EVER HAD A CAVITY AND IF SO HOW MANY?

Honestly I don’t know, it’s been a few, but I usually do rather well in regards to my teeth, despite the fact that I rarely go to the Dentist.

11. HAVE YOU EVER TALKED TO SOMEONE ON THE PHONE WHILE ON THE TOILET?

Hell yeah I have, all the time, when I gotta go I go.

12. DO YOU PREFER CATS OR DOGS?

I can go either way.

13. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN AND IF SO WHY? IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY ALL GO TO HEAVEN THEN DO YOU THINK THAT THEY SHOULD?

I honestly haven’t given it much thought.

14. DO YOU THINK THAT ROY FROM SIGFRIED AND ROY HAD IT COMING?

Sure, why not you hit me on the nose with a microphone often enough and see if I don’t maul you a bit.

15. HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN ACCIDENT IN YOUR PANTS WHILE TRYING TO FART WHILE YOU WERE AN ADULT AND NOT WEARING DIAPERS?

I think I’m going to plead the fifth on this one just for comedies sake.

16. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN JAIL OR HELD BY THE POLICE?

Yes, I’ve been in jail in several countries, but what I'm wondering is if tours count? or if I was dropping someone off?

17. NOW THAT YOU LIVE ON YOUR OWN, ASSUMING OF COURSE THAT MOST OF YOU DO, DO YOU CUSS IN FRONT OF YOUR PARENTS? ON THE PHONE COUNTS TOO.

Yes, but I did it long before I ever moved out, my parents and I have an interesting relationship.

18. HAS A HOMOSEXUAL EVER COME ONTO YOU? HOMOSEXUALS NEED NOT ANSWER, BUT BY NOT ANSWERING YOU ADMIT THAT YOU'RE A HOMOSEXUAL. NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH BEING A HOMOSEXUAL BUT WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW. OKAY?!

Yes, both males and females And I don’t mind it at all, I’m polite enough to let them know that I’m straight.

19. HAVE YOU EVER EATEN ANY EXOTIC SORT OF MEAT? THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE BEEF, PORK, CHICKEN, FISH, SEAFOOD, OR OPPOSSUM AS EVERYONE HAS HAD THESE ONE TIME OR ANOTHER.

Squid, Coyote, bear, blowfish, gator, sushi, sashimi etc. etc. but when it comes to some of my family these aren’t so exotic.



Monday, October 27, 2003

Yes, I know it's a Tuesday and I haven't written in awhile, or well I haven't written here in awhile anyway, I've been writing a lot in other places. Much has been going on in my life and I'm simply trying to make it through to the next day. I'm beginning to sort things out, to settle in here in Austin. I wish some things in my life were different,

Such as my capacity to share my feelings with those that are closest to me and not through my writings or emails, but face to face or at least voice to voice. I have so much inside of me that I want to share, but I hold back, because I’m scared of being happy? Or maybe because I’m scared of losing control. I know that’s a part of it. That I have it in me to love someone so completely, it’s just locked away behind a mass of scar tissue and chains.

I wish that I didn’t procrastinate or hesitate so much, I know that I begin with good intentions, but unfortunately along the way I’m side tracked and the opportunity passes me by.

But enough of that right now, people as a whole tend to dwell on the negative and I know that I do it. I have positive things in my life, good friends, family that cares in their own weird dysfunctional way.

I just wish some things were different about me and about my life.

But on a different less introspectional note let me update you on what I've been doing, don't worry it hasn't been much so you won't have to read a long post like mine others have been of late. Basically I've been working around the apartment complex, been to class on a regular basis. I've gone out with friends, both new and old, some evenings consisted of absolute craziness others a simple dinner with friends. I'm dealing with some serious sinus congestion/ allergies and the weather here isn't helping, it's like it doesn't know whether it wants to be winter or not here. My Physical Geography Professor says it has to do with the Balconies Fault and the weather patterns coming from California. Either way it's not helping.

I have some papers to write for my government class, they seem to be combining themselves and are turning into what appears to be a bill, perhaps I'll submit it to a local congressman for consideration and then eventual dumping into the garbage, or who knows. it's not a particularly controversial issue.

A friend has arrived within the past few days all the way from Austria, though he is not Austrian, he's Norweigan, Stian is an anomaly in the world of El Rio, maintaining a presence from thousands of miles away and on odd times of the year he comes back. He's seems a decent enough fellow, though a bit European in his tastes and habits. but still a good guy.

Anyway I have to get back to work soon, but I will attempt to write more later.

Friday, October 24, 2003

my internet connection is Fubar'd if you need to contact me sometime this weekend give me a call, 512-947-2848 cel or at home 512-477-5941. I hope everything is going well with you and yours!

Tuesday, October 21, 2003

I went to Houston for the weekend and drama ensued... it's almost too much to write about, what? You think I was visiting a significant other? Unfortunately no, I went to see my parents, my friends.

I found that my parents and I have a better relationship when I'm living here in Austin, than when I'm there in Houston. We didn't even speak and I told them I was coming into town weeks ago, but they made plans all weekend long, its okay, do you really want to hear about this? it seems a bit trivial once I start getting it out, but then again nothing is too trivial when your parents are treating you like garbage so I’ll share as much as I like even though it's not all about my parents, but I'll get to that later.

I went to Houston with a friend of mine she lives about 15 min from my parents so I took her home for the weekend. While I wasn't able to be around my parents I went over to her house and hung out with her family. Her little brother is in a band and needed to sell tickets, Nicky, my friend didn't have the cash to buy them so I bought them and said I would go too. Later that night we ran into my friend Jean, who talked about seeing our friend Drew who was in a motorcycle wreck and is still in the hospital this is the first time that drew has allowed visitors. So Nicky and I agreed to go, the problem was that Nicky’s brother didn't sell enough tickets to his concert in time, so they bumped him from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m. to play and we had planned to meet with jean around 9:30 a.m. to go see drew, cause he is better in the mornings, well when you get a bunch of friends together that haven't seen each other in awhile at a local coffee shop in the morning everyone's going to say hi and whatever. So Nicky and a friend left early to go to the concert and I said I would meet them there after I found out where Drew was so that we could see him later. Well when we got to the Hospital it was already 10:30 a.m. and once I got there, my friend Drew took precedence and I didn't go to the concert, I mean Drew could have died right? So a concert didn't seem all that important.
Apparently Nicky’s pissed off and says that her brother would have rather sold his tickets to someone who would have come to the concert, apparently even his own brother, Dustin didn't go. Well, I thought he would have understood everything with Drew in the Hospital. Michael seems like a level headed kid, but maybe it's just Nicky.

We had a friend who had to go to fort hood on Monday, to get some stuff. I was supposed to leave the truck in Houston and Nicky and I ride with them, but they decided to leave early, and I wound up having to drive to Austin, I was leaving the truck in Houston so that my dad could take a look at it, it's been running oddly.

I know I probably should have left the truck for my parents, but I got into an argument with someone before leaving Houston and I tore out of there with the truck. I was probably upset because my now official ex-girlfriend emailed me, it’s a bit complicated, but she basically said that this is what it is and it’s the way it has to be, she won’t talk to me or anything and that pisses me off, I’m not even given a chance to either defend myself or talk to her about anything at all. I did call her and tell her that I was in Houston on Friday and if she wanted to talk then to give me a call, that's all I said. I know I know, but at the time it seemed like a good idea, I really liked this girl and I still do, but just like the others I’m going to have to learn to move on.



On the way back to Austin I remembered I had forgotten my bike at Sun&Ski, so I had to turn around and go back. I get the bike, see some friends at Sun&Ski, chat it up for a bit, then turn around and fight my way through Houston traffic,

So now I'm all upset and driving like crazy back to Austin, because I just want to get home to someplace normal, lol... Austin... normal....
Anyway my boss calls me and asks me when I'll be back in Austin and I told her I was just now leaving Houston and wasn’t sure, she needed to know, because she wanted an Apartment shown to a prospective tenant, so we decided on 8:00 p.m. would be about the time I would get back. A couple of minutes after getting off the phone with my boss I just happened to look up in the rear view mirror, cause I do that every now and then.

There is a huge cloud of smoke spreading out from the back of the truck, at first I thought I was driving on a dirt road, but no I was on asphalt I checked the gauges and lights and everything seemed fine, no indications of anything wrong. Everything was working fine. Well I remembered a gas station that I had passed and so I turned around and went back.
It must have looked like a scene from Spy Hunter I pull into this chevron and I pop the hood and check everything, it seems fine. So I look under the truck and there is red-black fluid pouring out from under the entire bottom of the truck. What was it you might ask? Transmission fluid and I was like hm... Weird... is it just leaking? No it was pouring. I didn't have any tools or anyway to fix it. So I tried calling my parents, no answer. I called my boss and told them I'd be a little late, if I even got to Austin I called a bunch of people to see if anyone could help, I got a hold of my good friend Timbo, but he was in Houston and I wasn’t about to ask him to drive all the way out to where I was, I was in the middle of nowhere. I finally go hold of my sister and she, my brother-in-law and the entire pack of rug rats showed up a few hours later.

In the meantime here I was lying on the side of the road with my legs up in the driver’s side of the truck with all this red-black fluid pouring everywhere... I thought it was pretty artistic, all these random people kept coming up and asking if I was okay and friends kept calling me and asking where I was, so I kept telling them where I was, lying on the side of the road.

I had to leave the truck after my brother-in-law pronounced that it was too late to do anymore looking at it, so they convinced me to grab what I could and they and the rug rats drove me to Austin, it was great, my nieces sang to me and my nephew just slept. Yeah and when they got here they invaded my apartment like a tornado and now I'm 1 football, 1 basketball, and a few other things less but it was cool, I enjoyed having them over, They played catch in the front yard of the apartments with some of the other tenants and just basically ran amuck around the place for a little while. I'd like to think that it strengthened my relationship with my sister and her husband, whom I didn't know well, but I got the opportunity to do so. So my weekend didn't end so badly.

Though the next day, Monday, started off badly, I went with my friend Nicky to Starbucks for Coffee and she started into me about the concert that I didn’t go to. I was eating stale oatmeal raisin cookies and banana nut bread and afterwards Nicky kept saying she was hungry and couldn’t decide where to go. After several minutes of that I was annoyed, I told her I wasn’t hungry because of what I just ate and I asked her where she would like to go, she replied back with some smart comment like why did it matter to me I had already eaten. At that point I just got up and left, I came back here to the apartments and just stayed to myself for the rest of the day, just me and my thoughts.

So now it’s Tuesday, what do I have planned for the rest of the day? Well, I'm about to go have lunch with my buddy Dave, study a bit, maybe write if I can get what I'm thinking out of my head and onto paper, try to resolve the concert issue with my friend Nicky (she’s still pissed at me and we haven't spoken since yesterday) and then I have class later from 5 till 10. So I’m out like a dying street light, slowly fading away…

Monday, October 20, 2003

1. WHAT IS YOUR Middle name?
Hudson

2. WHAT kind of PANTS ARE YOU WEARING and what color?
Blue jeans, baggy from old navy on tax free weekend

3. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The air conditioning vent outside my door

4. WHAT ARE THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER?
512-947- 2848

5. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE:
Easy Mac and burnt fish sticks, damn broken oven timer

6. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Blue, cause I like blue!!

7. HOW IS THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW?
It’s nice, a little chilly, but that’s good snuggling weather

8. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Dustin

9. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX?
I should probably say something nice like the “eyes”, but I’m going to be honest and say the face and then the body.

10. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT YOU THIS?
Hmmm… I’m still working on that one

11. HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
Mixed up, I’ve got a lot on my mind.

12. FAVORITE DRINK?
Water followed closely by Iced Tea, then Dr. Pepper

13. FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK?
Vodka, especially Tito’s!!

14. FAVORITE SPORTS?
Football, Hockey, Mountain Biking, a few others

15. HAIR COLOR?
Brown

16. EYE COLOR?
Brown

17. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
no, glasses

18. SIBLINGS AND THEIR AGEs?
Older Sister: Victoria (27) and Younger Brother:Charles (23) Yep that makes me the middle child, all messed up.

19. FAVORITE MONTH?
February or March when the Spring is still cool and turning to Summer

20. FAVORITE FOOD?
Pasta, almost any kind and style.

21. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED AND WITH WHO?
Theatre: Kill Bill
Home: Army Of Darkness

22. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR?
That one day everyone else doesn’t like


23. ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT?
At times I can be, Other times watch out.

24. DO YOU LIKE SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
I like to think that the journey is what counts not the destination, and if I happen to be a little happy or scared along the way, well then that’s good too.

25. SUMMER OR WINTER?
summer.

26. HUGS OR KISSES?
depends on who it is, could just be a good firm handshake.

28. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?
For what ;o)

29. DO YOU WANT YOUR FRIENDS TO WRITE BACK?
yes, please.

30. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Janae aka Aurora, she loves these things.

31. WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
That crazy sarah chick.

32. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING?
Bird by Bird. Red leaves at Night, Salman Rushdie’s Fury

33. WHAT'S ON YOUR SCREEN SAVER?
A picture I took of a shadowed alley in Croatia

34. FAVORITE BOARD GAME?
Risk, Monopoly, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, just bring it.

35. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT?
I laid on the side of 290 after my truck broke down on the way from Houston to Austin, then my sister and her family brought me back, then I spent the night with friends.

36. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Lavender and vanilla on a woman, cookies baking and I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

37. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN
YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING?
If I even go to bed, then it’s probably why am I even awake, what am I going to do today? And that I probably shouldn't have drunk so much caffeine the night before.

Tuesday, October 14, 2003

Angel's tears

Have you ever had one of those days
you never should have left your bed
You don't know exactly where it started
but it's all been down hill from there

And no matter where you turn
there doesn't seem to be any signs
to show you how to get back
on your path

So you cry
cause there's nothing else left to do
and you hide
so nothing else can find you
and you pray
with all of your heart in your tears
and you hope that they fall
straight from your eyes
into angel's ears

You know those times when it seems
nothin' you do is right
So you try to pull yourself out
and only dig a deeper hole

And no matter how loud you call
no one hears
and the day is giving way
to night

So you cry
cause there's nothing else left to do
and you hide
so nothing else can find you
and you pray
with all of your heart in your tears
and you hope that they fall
straight from your eyes
into the angel's ears

So you cry
cause there's nothing else to do
and you hide
so nothing else can find you
and you pray
with all of your heart in your tears
and you hope that they fall
straight from your eyes
into the angel's ears

Oh and I pray
with all of my heart in my tears
and I hope that they fall
straight from my eyes
into the angel's ears
I realize it's the afternoon and that you've probably already gone through here, but I wanted to take the opportunity to write, so I am.

I'm taking a break, I have two hours to go till I have my midterm and I wanted to let y'all know that I was thinking of you.

I got another call from a guy in my unit today, he's leaving to go to Ft. Drum for training, and then he thinks maybe overseas, but he's not sure, he's a little worried, but we talked about it.

Damn, someone needs me in the builing so I've got to go, but I'll try to write more later.

Hugh

Monday, October 13, 2003

It is well past midnight so I can begin todays posting with gusto!

I've been attempting to study all day yesterday and still am, though I did have to take a break to show apartments, fix an air conditioner and deal with an insane tenant, not to mention the fact that I saw Quenton Tarantino's new movie "Kill Bill" which I highly reccomend you go seeing.

As for the studying, I'm getting back to that soon, but in the meantime I need to say something.

I should have realized the truth of this sooner. "A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same." -Elbert Hubbard

and that, "Friends are treasures." -Horace Bruns

I just want to say, that if you're reading this still, I'm sorry for all the things I didn't say, for all the words that went unspoken, the words misunderstood and the trust I broke, for the pain I've caused and the ending it caused. I miss you very much and only wish for your happiness. Please, forgive me.

"We call that person who has lost his father, an orphan; and a widower that man who has lost his wife. But that man who has known the immense unhappiness of losing a friend, by what name do we call him? Here every language is silent and holds its peace in impotence."
-Joseph Roux

"The only way to have a friend is to be one." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

"A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil; but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small, silly presents every so often - just to save it from drying out completely." -Pam Brown

My friend Haitham will be leaving to go to Puerto Rico soon, I just learned of this from him not too long ago. Haitham is a great man, very intelligent and cultured, he's good to have a conversation with and always willing to listen, I shall endeavor to be his friend for a long time. He will be sorely missed around the coffee shop, I think my world will get a little more dim when he is gone. but he won't be far away and I shall endeavor again to visit him in Puerto Rico and not just for the location, but because I can truly count this man among my brothers.

"Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything." -Muhammad Ali

"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow grow, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation." -George Washington

"The road to a friend's house is never long." -Danish proverb

No matter where you go, or how far away you are, whether we speak tomorrow or in a month or a year, know that I'll keep you constantly in my thoughts for you are a friend held dear and close to my heart. I'm not always good with my emotions when we speak, but know that with you by my side I could never be weak. A true friend you are and I can't help but realize it too late to let you know. but all of you that I know I count you as close as family and wish you all the best in your lives.

It is late, or early as you might put it, time is all relative. I need to get some sleep so I can wake up later today and continue studying.
It's Monday Morning and I've already had a full day to start with and it's going to keep going I can tell already. You'll have noticed that I didn't finish posting yesterday, I simply wound up not being here at the apartments. I'm attempting to get out into the world, to see and experience Austin or at least I'm attempting to get away from here because I need to stay off the computer so that I can study for my Mid-Terms of which I only have one left, but it's a big one, at least for me it is. I know all of you are dealing with your own academic endeavors or life's little ironies and I'm not attempting to place my own above yours, they're just foremost in my own mind.

I was going to start writing about today, but I think I should go back to Yesterday, because that's where this tale neither begins nor ends, Robert Jordan had a great qoute in his Wheel of time Series with which he begins every book ( this one comes from Winter's Heart, book Nine in the series), it goes something like this,

"The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, Called the third Age by some, and Age yet to come, An Age long past, A wind rose above the Aryth Ocean. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turn of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning."

So to Yesterday, A beginning of sorts, but also an ending of sorts for it is neither nothing, nor is it everything and that is all the truth I can offer you. Yesterday began with an attempt at studying at a local Starbucks on 24th and San Antonio. I should have known better than to go to a Starbucks to study, I was there for a good thirty minutes before a friend of mine showed up and it was only about 15-20 minutes more before Six more had arrived and soon studying just flew out the window. And before I knew it we were in vehicles and heading out to grab some grub, We ate at the Ommeletry restraunt, It was good times, good times. Then back to the Apt's for a quick showing for some prospective tenants, then back out in a further attempt to study, which was forestalled by the invite to watch movies at Nicki's with friends, compadres and acquantances. Watching Army of Darkness for the thousandth or so time was highly enjoyable. I haven't had the opportunity to laugh in awhile. but in retrospect it might have been better if I had studied instead, but then again. Afterwards a further attempt at studying and then Dinner with more friends stayed up late to converse on some crazy topics. Continued Ringing the ceiling of my room with blue christmas lights, because I like blue, that's why. I reorganized the books in my room, pulling more from the back out into the open, have you noticed a pattern here? I can't seem to concentrate on studying, this midterm tomorrow is very important, but even now I'm sitting here procrastinating by writing this post. Someone from my unit called me again yesterday, they echoed the thoughts that were in my own head, that we may have to go back soon. That more may be required of us. This bothers me a lot. I love my country and would do anything for my fellow man, but I too want my freedom, I want to be able to live my life and realize my American dream, but it seems a choice made so long ago will affect my entire life, I chose to serve and I must live with that choice.

I wasn't able to sleep again last night, I simply laid there and stared at the ceiling, I might have dozed off near 5 or 6 a.m. but I'm not sure, I know I heard my friend nicki tapping on my window this morning, she needed a ride to work, so I took her to Barton Springs and dropped her off. I walked around Zilker Park for a little while before deciding I needed to get going, then I thought I should get the truck looked at and maybe get the oil changed. So off to Jiffy Lube for the early bird special. I found out an interesting fact, Austin doesn't do Emissions Testing, I wonder what that will mean for the truck? could I get it tested here? While there I read the entire Morning paper, The Austin American Statesman, which was a good read if a bit light. I took particular interest in the stories of the action and consequences of what's going on overseas and it brought back to mind the phone call from yesterday and all my fears re-emerged. Yes I am scared, I am scared of a lot of things and I have no one to share my fear with and that is another thing that is bothering me, I fear that my lack of being able to share my emotions will leave me alone, I keep trying and yet I keep failing. So I will deal with it on my own as I have always done.

What do I have planned for the rest of the day? well I'm going to go out and attempt to study again. I have to, regardless of what I'm feeling inside or what may or may not occurr in my life. I must go on, if I don't then I've already given up and I'm not like that, a bit apathetic at times, a procrastinator of course, but a quiter? never.

Don't worry about me, I'll be okay. Someday.

Sunday, October 12, 2003

I'm going to add more later, I've just got to run out for some caffeine with friends, I hope everyone is having a good weekend and all that.


The FridayFive on a Sunday who would of thought?

1. Do you watch sports? If so, which ones?
- I don't follow sports, but I will watch Football with friends or family, Hockey too and others.
2. What/who are your favorite sports teams and/or favorite athletes?
- I was born in Dallas, so I like the Cowboys ( Yes, even when they suck), AHL I like the Aero's,
3. Are there any sports you hate?
- I don't really hate anything, it's too strong of a word to apply to something.
4. Have you ever been to a sports event?
- Yes, Tons, I once had season tickets for Hockey (AHL not NHL)
5. Do/did you play any sports (in school or other)? How long did you play?
- Yes, I've played, Mountain Biking,Football, Baseball, Volleyball, Softball, Soccer, Track, tons of sports and I've been playing all my life

Thursday, October 09, 2003

So I hung out with Lance Armstrong tonight, how rad is that? He was having a book signing at Bookpeople. I wore my International Mountain bikers association shirt with all the patches from where I've ridden and we traded stories of rides it was seriously excellent. too bad they wouldn't allow pictures though, but I did get an autograph on his latest book and that is still cool. So I got to meet someone famous, and you know what? he got to meet someone infamous.... me...haha. I'msure he gets that all the time. my friend nicki says she sees him at barton springs all the time, along with dozens of other celebrities, she's wasn't impressed. I love bookpeople, they always have these signings, in a couple of days Terry Pratchet will be there for one and I met Bruce Campbell there and a few others. Bruce was cool, I had no idea that he grew up with Sam Raimi and has a brother in the Army, it was great fun. You don't get to chat long with a line though so I make it a point to be towards the end of the line, that way I can chat a little bit and not too many people will get pissed at me.I know how to work a signing, got it down to an art practically, though I need to start bringing a chair, I was in line for almost 2 hours!!, though some people had been there since noon and already finished the book. So in comparison to some I didn't have to wait that long and I now have a signed copy of his book and I can check another celebrity off my list

As you can see I've had a bit too much caffeine tonight which was a consequence of studying really hard for my Exam this evening and I was really excited about meeting Lance, afterwards I just couldn't keep from being so stoked about it all and I wanted to share, but some of you might not want to listen to me ramble on and so now I must bid you goodnight I have to go harrass some more people about this and maybe try to study for my next exam...

It's Thursday evening and I've been studying like crazy for mid-terms, I just finished one about 20 minutes ago and I have another to study for, but it's not till next Tuesday, I've been spending all my free time with my face buried in books and going over graphs, charts and diagrams. I've had so much coffee that it's almost surpassed the blood levels in my system. I am supercharged and I just blew through a 100 question mid-term in like 20 minutes, does that seem a little fast to you? it does to me and I'll have to wait till Tuesday to find out how I did and then after that class I have my other mid-term which I'm not relishing.

What's been going on with Hugh you might ask? plenty. I've been doing odd jobs around Austin to help make money, different things which are keeping me well fed. Spending time with friends, not really going out, just hanging around the apartments. I've been focusing on my studies a lot, I've gotta make my grades count.

Tonight, there is a book signing by Lance Armstrong at Bookpeople here in Austin, Texas. I'm thinking of going, but my camera is busted. I might break down and buy a disposable, just for the photo opportunity. I'm a cyclist myself, though nowhere near his caliber. I admire him for his dedication to his family and his sport, not to mention his overcoming great odds to get where he is today. The signing isn't until 8:00 p.m. but I'm thinking there will be a long line and I want to get in there soon, so I'm going to head down there in a bit.

Yes I'm still mixed up in my head and there are things that need to be said to certain people in my life, Though scheduling is a conflict with speaking with them, it just doesn't seem to work out that when I attempt to contact them, well not everyone can be available when you want them and I understand that. So I'll keep trying and trying. I have to or what is it all for?

Well I'm out, wish me luck and I'll tell Lance y'all said hi!!

Tuesday, October 07, 2003

A new day is this day, this Tuesday in Austin. I've tried so hard to run away from my problems from the pain I feel inside, but it seems you can't run away from something that is in you, that is you. It seems I needed the catalyst of losing someone I hold so close to my heart to bring this forth, So I will be spending some time in introspection, delving into how I feel and what I feel.

I think I seek out pain, not physical, though it finds me often enough, but emotional and mental, I think that I write better when I'm in pain, so I subconciously seek to get hurt, to better able to express my emotions on paper. I know it's hard for me to write when I'm happy, or at least it comes out more abstract than heartfelt. I don't think this is conducive to maintaining a relationship.

I just had a conversation with my Mom about what's going on with her and with the family and everything eerily enough she echoed almost exactly the words I use in my relationships, when they are ending that is, she said,"...I didn't tell you because I didn't want to dump on you, you're already dealing with so much, I didn't want to add to them with what's going on with us..." What I found odd was this is almost exactly the same words I've used in my most recent past. So I wonder if there is more of my parents in me than I previously thought. I don't know if I like that or not, it doesn't bode well for any relationship I'll ever be in, not to mention what I previously wrote about my relationships. but I know what the problem is, so why can't I change? I'd like to think I could stop the cycle, so many other people have. what should I do? how should I act/react? There are so many ponderables to this that I don't know where to begin. I think I analyze things too much...what do you think?

The weather here has been off and on, both rainy and sunny, I think that often mirrors how I've been feeling lately. I received a phone call from my unit this afternoon, they want me back on Active Duty, I was shocked, freaked out, I haven't even finished settling in here and then they call, how messed up is that. They asked me all these questions about what kind of tour I'd be able to do and I had to basically tell them that it didn't matter what answer I gave, because if they send me orders then I'll have to go regardless...

and on that note I'm off to shower and then class...
have a great one all!

Monday, October 06, 2003

It's Monday night and as a friend so aptly put it it's time to wake up and smell the pigskin, yes my friends thats right it's time for Monday Night Football and a bunch of us are going out to watch the game.

Today was both a good and lethargic day, the weather has mirrored my soul with it's grey cloudy skies and rain.

but before I get into that I want to say that I woke up from sleeping at 3:36 a.m. this morning and my face was wet, apparantly I've been crying in my sleep again, yesterday I thought about so many things in my life and how everything seems to be out of my control, I think there's more going on beneath the surface than I really understand right now. some of you may have read my man apart series and others I'd like you to take a look at it, read it from the bottom up, those aren't the real dates that they were written, I have those in my journals, but at the times they mirrored my soul and often what was going on in my life at the time. let me know what you think.

And speaking of writing, I recently found out my friend Anita writes as well and very well at that. It seems I am surrounded by a plethora of unknown writers/lyricists and poets. I'd like to know if you have anything to share.

Back to my day, it began early as I mentioned previously, I've been having trouble sleeping, it seems I've got a lot on my mind lately and other things just keep piling up, I feel the weight pressing down on me constantly. so much so that my shoulders hurt from the strain. This morning dawned early, I took my friend Nicki to work, we talked along the way, there are some things that we need to discuss, but neither of us brought those up. We might be collaborating on some lyrics, but I think I'm going to let her do it herself so that if she does use it for her band there won't be any copyright issues...

After dropping Nicki off, I came back here and I think I spaced out for about the whole day...I don't remember what I did, I think I just sat here and either slept in my chair or stared off into space... I think I did that all day, until it was time to pick up Nicki in the afternoon. I don't know what's going on with me, I feel so lethargic, so out of it, what's wrong with me? I picked nicki up and was really hungry so I took her to Chili's for lunch, I just didn't want to come back to the apartments, Chili's turned out to be a great idea, our waiter kicked ass, and the food was a good change from Ramen and Frozen burritos... I worked on some writing, it sucks, but at least I was writing again. this past weekend I went to Bookpeople and picked out some new books, I don't read as much as I used to and I need to regain what I've lost from my vocabulary.

So tonight I'm going out, just to get out, with people I don't know to a place I've never been and to do something I never really do... whatever, whatever...

Sunday, October 05, 2003

Have you ever had one of those months? Where everything in your life just seemed to flush itself down the drain? I don't know how to express it, to explain how messed up this past month has been. There have been good times as well as bad, but most of it has been bad and I haven't been able to share what I'm really feeling with anyone. I have loved and lost that love due to my inability to communicate and my evident fear of actually having something good in my life. Ever since Michelle and I broke up years ago I have this problem with maintaining any sort of relationship for very long. Not to mention the fact that growing up in the environment I did, with parents who should never have gotten together and who love to hate each other, but can't see themselves with anyone else or fear to be alone, Where arguments are a way of life/conversation, is not really coducive to helping me develop an ability to have a well balanced relationship. It always starts out so well and then I get scared or apathetic or whatever it's called and we break up, more often than nought it's the girl I'm with that does the breaking up. So here follows an edited excerpt from an email which I wrote previously, writing helps me get what I've got going on inside out, so this might not make a lot of sense to most of you, but I just need to get it out.

I'm shaking right now, this is so hard for me to talk about. A conversation ended and so much more is now ended. It's all my fault I know it was said different, but I screwed up, I know. I wanted so much to tell the truth of my feelings to let someone in so deep that I'd drown with them. I want so much for them to be happy. I'm sorry I gave you reason to have the strength to say goodbye to us.

I know I wasn't being fare to you, it wasn't the way to have a relationship, that all you were able to get from me came from either reading this Weblog or through emails, a relationship is with a Human being not with a computer, But I write and everything comes out, pouring onto the page, it's easier for me to converse this way. I always send emails and then realize that what I just wrote in the email, was what was/is going on in my life and then I post it to my Weblog for others to read, it's not always the full story and I'm sorry I have trouble sharing.

When I was younger, I had so much emotion and it was wild, out of control, I couldn't handle it. I went from Happy to Full blown angry in nanoseconds then to extreme remorse for whatever altercation or argument had just occurred and I couldn't stop crying. I sought help, yes I did see a psychiatrist or two for awhile, eventually I was hospitalized or institutionalized, whatever you want to call it, I was in a locked installation on a lot of medication, they did all these tests and counseling sessions and eventually at the end of the time that my insurance would cover I was pronounced healed and healthy, when I was just another over-medicated automaton, going through the motions of life, but not really living. For years I existed this way and I didn't like who I was before, but I couldn't be who I was now, The anger and the pain was still inside it never went away and I had no way to deal with it. So I hid myself from the world, I buried myself in books, started reading about all varieties of things, from sci-fi/fantasy, fiction, books on meditation and martial arts. I learned to control my emotions to lock things away inside so that I didn't have to deal with them and I slowly began taking my self off my medication, but it wasn't working, so I went cold turkey and it sucked for a long while, but I got through it, but the fact remains that I learned to control my emotions so well, that I locked them away behind this mask and it is so hard for me to let people in. I know it's hard to believe, but inside I feel so much, though on the outside all you'll see is my physical presence.

I don't know what I'm going to accomplish in writing this, so I'm just writing to write and there is so much beneath the surface that is bubbling up and it's almost too much for me to handle right now, I'm going to take a break in a few minutes to calm myself down, I can feel the tears in my eyes, the emotion deep inside, it's burning up through me seeking a release, I don't want it to get out, but I can't hold it inside any longer... god it hurts so much to be me sometimes...

I don't know what to say to let you know that I still care about you so much...

I tried to talk about what happened this past weekend but the words just couldn't come out. I hurt so much inside, my friends are in the hospital, I tried to see Drew, but he's not doing very well, he may be paralyzed for life, everythings going to change for him, I know the part of the hospital he's in, cause I've been there before and that brought back memories of pain, I've come back from so much and I still carry the memories, the phantom pains aren't real but they feel so real it hurts inside. My good friend Jason's in the hospital too, I didn't know what was going on with him and I was talking to his girlfriend leslie and she was so worried, he's going to have to have surgery... it's easy to talk about my friends they are close to me, but they aren't personal, they touch part of my life, but then they don't. do you understand? It's like it's a safe subject to discuss it doesn't touch on what's going on inside me and even thought I write about it, I'm not sure if what's really bothering me is what's coming out...

The situation with my family is bothering me, they let me go, but then they seem to pull me back in deeper... Their future is so much in doubt.

My Father is a huge procrastinator and he puts the blame for things on other people, when he needs to realize that the problems at home begin with himself, He's so heavily medicated at times that it worries me, he always seems to be in pain, I don't think he'll ever be able to have a regular job again, I fear that I may become my father and I don't want that,

or worse that I might become like my mother and I don't want that ever, She is buying things she doesn't need, drinking, gambling and who knows what else. It's like she fears to not have stuff so she buys everything she can get her hands on, she drinks like crazy, is always out at a bar or off spending time with her friends, when she does work she claims that all the money is hers to do with as she pleases, she doesn't think about the family at all.

There are aspects of them that are so great, but then I find out that that's just a mask hiding so much more. I don't want a relationship like theres. they hate each other and yet they can't see themselves without each other, maybe that's why I tend to drive people I care about away, because I worry that I might come to be what my parents are...

Then there's my brother to provide for, he's the innocent one in all of this, what's going to happen to him? where's he going to go? I can't help him out, I have to work on myself first. He doesn't have a college education and barely a high school one, he's doing okay at a grocery store night stocking, but what else motivates him? only video games and comics, I don't know if he even wants more out of life? has he been so discouraged that he's come to accept what he's got? He's growing up but at such a slower pace that I fear for him so much.

I was just in Houston and they lied to me?! my own parents, they told me everything was okay and it was a lie, they lied to me again. Then they asked me for more money and help and I can't help them I have nothing to give. I don't know what to do. They may have to move to Dallas to live with my grandparents, but my Grandparents aren't doing much better, My Grandfather is in the Hospital again, he's fighting leukemia now, he's so strong, he kicks ass he's so cool, it's just that he has fought off other forms of cancer and so much else in life, I don't think he'd be able to handle my parents and my brother living there and what would they do in Dallas?? I have no clue... My Grandmother isn't up to having them there either... she's not a nice person and every year she gets worse... I can't even begin to describe her... I think my whole family is messed up in some sort of way and I'm including myself in that statement.

My sister too lost her home and has moved in with her mother-in-law. she's living with my nieces and nephew in a travel trailor, I worry about their sense of family and stability and how it's going to effect their growth. Vicky is going back to school but she doesn't have a vehicle to get there, she did get a job at the financial aid office, so at least she's making an effort and I applaud her for that, but the children, that's no way to grow up. Her husband is doing what he can, but he owns his own contractor business and if he doesn't work he doesn't get paid and he's not had work in awhile.

As for myself, I've been so worried about various things in my life like this, it's eating me up inside and I wanted so much to talk about what's going on in my life, but I thought it would drive people away, make y'all think less of me if I seemed weak, or that I might have had too many problems for you to deal with, but I know that's stupid, I knew that even before everything, that's why I said what I said, that I hold back information because I'm scared to let people know what's going on in my mind.. scared that They'll be put off by the pain and burdens I place on myself... I know what I do and it's stupid of me to keep doing it, but I don't realize it until too late. I keep myself trapped within a mental cage, I tried talking with with the people in my life, but I keep backing off, Everyone is so busy with everything in their lives. I didn't want to add to their load, you're all so strong and you have so much to deal with already and I can't expect you to deal with my own as well as yours...

I want someone to be a part of my life, more so than some might think. I want someone to be my everything, to break my walls down and get me to open up, I'm so ready to dive full in, but I'm afraid of drowning and now I've screwed up and I just hope that in the future there might be more time for someone to be with together. I don't know what the future holds for any of us, but I know I want an amazing person who is so beautiful and gifted that I can't see my life without them in it.

I'm sorry that I made the people I truly care about feel in any other way than loved, than what you truly mean to me... I don't want you to think you have a relationship with my computer more so than with me and yet here I sit pouring my heart out on a computer, because once again I've screwed up... I'm sorry forgive me..

I know this is getting long and it's stuff I should have told you in person, but I'm a fool to think I couldn't have, I'm such a fool, practically the King of fools...

with love,
Hugh

This weeks edition of the Friday Five arriving a bit late, but here it is...enjoy:
1. What vehicle do you drive?
- It seems this question is coming up alot in recent question things, anyway I'm driving a 1988 S-10 Blazer, it's a little beat up, but running well.
2. How long have you had it?
- I haven't had it that long, but it's been in the family for years.
3. What is the coolest feature on your vehicle?
- the memories, those are the coolest.
4. What is the most annoying thing about your vehicle?
- the very real lack of air conditioning
5. If money were no object, what vehicle would you be driving right now?
- I need something to haul both my friends and my crap in so something like a decked out 4Runner, or maybe a Hummer older model of course, not this new plastic kind.